The race for a coveted spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 began with a thrilling start as Nepal, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong China secured victories on the opening day of the Asia Qualifier Final.
In an intense battle for two available spots, Nepal and the host nation kicked off their campaign with a resounding victory against Singapore. Nepal chased down a challenging target of 146 with 3.3 overs to spare, securing an eight-wicket triumph.
The star of the match was Kushal Bhurtel, who dazzled with an impressive 74 runs, marking the highest score of the T20I and giving Nepal a strong start in Group A.
Oman joined Nepal in the top two of the group after overpowering Malaysia in a thrilling afternoon clash in Kirtipur. Zeeshan Maqsood delivered a Player of the Match performance, scoring an unbeaten 56* to help his team reach 153/6 in the first innings.
He then played a key role with the ball, taking 2/13 to thwart Malaysia’s reply. Despite Virandeep Singh’s outstanding 57*, his efforts couldn’t prevent a 32-run loss for Malaysia.
In the other group, UAE made an impressive start by defeating Bahrain in a thrilling match at the Mulpani Cricket Ground. UAE faced wickets falling as they chased Bahrain’s 135/6, but Ali Naseer’s match-winning 48* and his crucial bowling return of 1/20 steadied the ship for UAE.
Hong Kong China started their journey with a bang, posting an imposing total against Kuwait in the other Group B match, securing a 16-run victory.
Martin Coetzee’s superb 81 played a pivotal role in setting up a formidable first-innings score of 166. Hong Kong China successfully defended this total, managing to secure the key wicket of Mohammad Aslam just as Kuwait seemed to gain momentum in the chase.
The Asia Qualifier Final spans seven days, and the two teams that will claim spots in next year’s 20-team ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be determined during this event.
The participating teams have been divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The victors of the semi-finals will earn their place at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the two qualifiers set to face each other in an Asia Qualifier final scheduled for November 5th.
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